Control system



common SYSTEM Original Filed Jan. 21; 1937 PUMP meme

PUP/YA c5 MAL/AM A. 2A )4 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY ll of a liquid-pressure are filled.

' Patented Dec. 23, 1941 UNITED STATES, PATENT, OFFICE 'z,ze1,z1s f I I common srs'rniu William AI Ray, Glendale, Calif.

Original application Jan 121,575. Divided and 1940, Serial No. 342,334

(01. ass-14) 1 Claims.

variation of the condi ion fwedetermined value.

It is an object of this invention to provide means for accurately so positioning a conditioncontrolling member when the means employed for moving the member is in the form of a liquidpressure operatedmotor. Such-a motor comprises a chamber provided with a movable wall bellows, or diaphragml. direction of movement or partition (as a piston, which is biased in one and is movable in the opposite direction against the bias by the pressure of liquid pumped into the chamber; Movement of the partition under the influence of the bias is effected by opening a relief valve, connected to the pressure chamber, to reduce the liquid pressure therein.

It is a further object to provide simple,- de- I pendable andeffective means; including. switching means actuated in response to change in the condition of an electrical bridge, for accomplishing the above-stated object.

Other objects and advantages of my inventicn will be found in the description, the drawing, and the append d- This application is a division of my copending' application, Serial No. 121,575, 'flled. January 21, 1937.

For complete understanding of the invention,

reference may be had to the following detailed description and accompanying drawing, wherein the single figure is a diagrammatic view of a heating control system embodying my present invention. 1

In the drawing, indicated by the legend is a gas-consuming furnace, fuel supply to which is controlled by a modulating valve l2, which comprises a valve member I3 cooperable with a valve seat l4 and biased theretoward by a compression spring i5. The stem iii of the valve member is connected at its upper end to the piston operated motor l8 which comprises a cylinder the reliefwalve closes and, if the pump motor is the liquid-(preferably,. oil) withvalve 22 operated by a solenoid 23. Upon energization of this solenoid,

of the Wheatston'e'type,= comprising a my 21. 1931, Serial No. this application June 25, 1

then-also energized, by the liquid. If the-pump is then stopped, the piston remains in its'elevated position as the liquid cannot flow in-the [opposite direction through the pump, nor through the closed relief valve. If, however, the solenoid is-now deenergized, the piston moves downward under the influence of spring IS, the liquid passing from the area below the piston to the area above it through the open relief valve.

One lead of the pump motor is connected by a wire 24. to a fixed contact 25 with which a contact 25, carried by a switch blade 21, cooperates. The upper lead of the relief-valve solenoid 23 is connected by a wire 28 to another fixedcontact 29, cooperable with a contact 30 carried bya flexible metal strip 3|, secured to the switch blade. The other lead of the pump motor and the valve member will be raised; if the blade-is moved in the opposite direction so that both pairs ofcontacts are disengaged, the valve member will fall; and if the blade is permitted to assume shown) with contacts valve wil1 be maintained in the condition in which it was when, this occurred.

Indicated by the legend, and connected to the alternating current supply terminals 33 and 34, is a rectifier of the dry-plate type. The direct current output of this rectifier is connected by wires 36 and 31 to supply-an electrical bridge,

pair of resistances 38 and 39 interconnected by wires I9, the upper and lower ends of which are respectively connected by pipes normal position as shown. When -40 and 4|. As is well known, when points on the resistances, of equipotential, are interconnected, no current will flow through theconnection. However, if the points are at different potentials, current will flow in the connection in a direction determined by the respective polarity of the points. Cooperable with the resistances 38 and 39, respectively, are pivoted contact arms 42 and 43 which are connected by wires 44 and ,45 to a polarizedrelay, indicated by the legend, the movable element of which is connected by an arm 46 to the switch blade '21. When the relay is unenergized, the blade is in its the contact arm 42 is at a point on resistance 3,8-lower than that of arm 43 on resistance-39, current flows through the relay insuch direction as to move its normal intermediate position. (as- 29-30 only engaged, the I the piston is forced upward cc of alternating current; the other.

in one direction so that both pairs of contacts 25-26 and 23-33 are in engagement, with strip 3| inwardly flexed,"

the, switch blade to theright; when arm n is higher than arm 43, the blade is moved to the left. While, for the sake of clarity, a direct curof the alternating current type may preferably,

other contact arm 43 is connected by a pivoted link '48 'to an arm 49 extending from the valve stem I I and thus is moved thereby along the resistance 38 between the positions, indicated by the legends, corresponding to the valve condition. I o

The operation of the control system will now be described. Assuming that heating is discontinued at night and that, when the system is put into operation in the morning, the temperature of the space is considerably below that for which the thermostat is set, the arm 42 will be in engagement with the lower stop pin 50, the thermostat being so arranged as to move the contact arm to correspond with the temperature values shownat either end of resistance 38. The electrical power having been interrupted at night, the other contact arm 43 will be in its upper, or valve closed, position. Current will therefore flow through the relay in such a direction as to close bothv pairs of contacts 25-26 and 29-30 with the result that the fuel valve is promptly opened to its full extent. Arm 43, in the opening movement of the valve, having been brought to its lowermost, or valve open, position, the contact arms are at points of the bridge of equipotential and the relay therefore deenergized.

-Relief valve 22 is thus closed and the fuel valve is maintained in its elevated position.

As the temperature of the space now rises, when it is slightly above 68', the bridge will be sufliciently unbalanced to eii'ect movement of the relay tending to close the fuel valve. But when, by this movement, arm 43 is brought to a position substantially corresponding to that of the thermostat-controlled arm, downward movemen of the fuel valve member will be halted by deenergization of the relay. If the space temperature continues to rise, this operation will be repeated. Due to the inertia of switch blade 21 and to the relative spacing of the pairs of switch" contacts, there may always be a difierence between the relative positions of the contact arms on the bridge, but this difference will be quite small if the switch blade is of sufliciently flexible material and the sequential switch contacts closely arranged.

With the fuel valve now partly closed, the.

space heating rate is reduced. If this rate is not, suflicient to compensate for the heat losses in the space, the temperaturejalls, effecting unbalance of the bridge in such a direction as to raise the valve member to a slightly more open position. In, this manner, the fuel valve is positioned in accordance with the heating requirements of the space. If the space temperature finally rises to the maximum 72 for-which the system, in this illustration, is adjusted, the valve is fully closed. However, under normal conditions, this maximum temperature is not reached on account of the constant reduction in heating rate. Likewise, the fuel valve only attains'its fully open position if the space is subjected to excessive cooling, and normally continues to move back and forth within its modulating range.

While I have described my invention as applied to the control ofa heating system, it is obviously not so limited, as changes within the scope of one skilled in the art may be made to effect control ofother condition-changing systems, such as, for instance, a cooling, super-heat, humidifyins. pressure, speed, or liquid-level system. For example, in a liquid-level system, a float could be provided with means for controlling the movement of bridge .arm 42: the rate of liquid flow then being regulated in accordance with the variation of the liqu d from a predetermined.

level by the liquid-pressure-motor-operated valve positioning means. In a speed control system, the bridge arm moving means could-be associated with a governor.

I wish. it to be understood that still other modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention and that I intend therefore to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims. t

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination: means for changing a condition; a member movable in opposite directions between limiting positions, and capable of assuming a plurality of other positions intermediate thereof, for varying the operation of said condition changing means; liquid pressure operated means, including an electrically operated pump, for moving said member in one of said directions; means biasing said member in the "other of said directions; electrically operated valve means adapted, wh'en unenergized, to relieve the liquid pressure applied to said moving means whereby the member is moved by said bias; means movable in response to change in said condition: an electrical bridge, the balance of which is influenced by the movement of said condition responsive means: and switching means, responsive to the balance conditionof said bridge, and adapted when the same is balanced to effect energization of said relief valve; said switching means being adapted when the bridge is unbalanced in opposite senses to effect. respectively, energization and deenergization of both said relief valve and said pump.

2. In combination: means for changing a condition: a member movable in opposite directions between limiting positions, and capable of assuming a plurality of other positions intermediate thereof, for varying the operation of said condition changing means; liquid pressure operated means, including an electrically operated pump, for moving said member in one of said directions; means biasing said member in the other of said directions; electrically operated valve means adapted, when unenergized, to relieve the liquid pressure applied to said moving means whereby the member is moved by said bias; means movable in response to change in said condition; an electrical bridge, thebalance of which is influenced by the movement of said condition" responsive means; a three-position polarized relay connected to said bridge and responsive to the balance condition thereof; and

switchingmeans, controlledby said relay, and

adapted in the neutral condition thereof to effect energization of said relief valve; said switching. means being adapted when said relay is in oppositely energized conditions to effect, respecerated means, including an electrically operated pump, for moving said member in one of said directions; means biasing said member in the ture thereof; an electrical bridge, the balance of other 'of' said directions; electrically operated valve means adapted, when unenergized, to relieve the liquid pressure applied to said moving meanswhereby the member is moved by said bias; means movable in response to change in said condition; an electrical bridge, the balance of which is influenced by the movement of said condition responsive means; switching means, responsive to the balance condition of said' bridge, and adapted when the same is balanced to effect energization of said relief valve; said switching means being adapted when the bridge is unbalanced in opposite senses to effect, respectively, energization and deenergization of both said relief valve .and said, pump; and means, moved in accordance with the movement of said movable member, for balancing said bridge in response to the effect of the actuation of said switching means. i

4. In combination: means for changing, a condition; a member movable in opposite directions between limiting positions, and capable of assuming a plurality of other positions intermediate thereof, for varying the operation of said condition changing means; liquid pressure operated means, including an electrically operated pump, for moving said member in one of said directions; means biasing said member in the other of said directions; electrically operated valve means adapted, when unenergized, to relieve the liquid pressure applied to saidmoving means whereby the member ismdved by said bias; means movable in response to change in said condition; anelectrical bridge, the balance of which is influenced by the movement of said condition responsive means; a three-position polarized relay connected to said bridge and responsive to the balance condition thereof; switching means, controlled by said relay, and adapted in the neutral condition thereof to effect energization of said relief valve; said switching means being adapted when said relayis in oppositely energized conditions to effect, respectively, energization and deenergization of both said relief valve and said pump; and means, moved in accordance with the movement of said movable member, for balancing said bridge in response to the efiect of the actuation of said switching means.

5. In combination; means for changing the temperature of a space; a member movable in' opposite directions between limiting positions, and capable of assuming a plurality of other positions intermediate thereof, for varying the operation of said'temperature changing means; liquid pressure operated means, including an electrically operated pump. for moving said member in one of said directions; means biasing said member in the other of said directions; electrically operated valve means adapted. when unenergized, to relieve the liquid pressure applied to said moving means whereby the member is moved by said bias; means in said space and movable in response to changes in the temperawhich is influenced by the movement of said temperature responsive means; and switching means, responsive to the balance condition of said bridge, and adapted when the same is balanced to effect energization of said reliefvvalve;

said switching means being adapted when the bridge is unbalanced in opposite senses toefiect,

respectively, energization and deenergization of both said relief valve and said pump. I

6. In combination: means for changing" the temperature of a space; a member movable'in.

opposite directions between limiting positions, andcapable of assuming a plurality of other po sitions intermediate thereof, for varying the operation of said temperature changing means; liquid pressure operated means, including an electrically operated pump, for moving said member in one of said directions; means biasing said member in the other of said directions; electrically operated valve means adapted, when unenergized, to relieve the liquid pressure applied to said moving-means whereby the member is moved by said bias; means in said space and movable in response to changes in the temperature'thereof; an electrical bridge, the balanceof which is'influenced by the movement of said temperature responsive means; a three-position polarized'relay connected to said bridge and responsive to the balance conditionthereof; switching means, controlled by said relay, and

adapted in the neutral condition thereofto effect energization of said relief valve; said switching means being adapted when said relay'is in oppositely ener-gized conditions to effect, respec-,

tively, energization and deenergization of both said relief valve and said pump; and means,

' response to'changes in the temperature thereof;

, an-electri'cal bridge, the balance of which is infiuenced by the movement of said temperature.

moved in accordance with the movement of said movable member, for balancing said bridge in response to the effect of the actuation of said.

switching means.

7. In combination: means for heating a space; a member movable in opposite directions between limiting positions, and capable of assuming a pluralityof other positions intermediate thereof, for varying the operation of said heating means; liquid pressure operated means, including an electrically operated pump, for moving said member in such direction as to increase the temperature of the space; means biasing said member in an opposite direction; electrically operated valve means adapted, when unene'rgized,

to relieve the liquid pressure applied to saidmoving means whereby the member is movedby I said bias; means in said; space and movable in responsive means; a three-position polarized relay connected to said bridge and responsive to the balance condition thereof; switching means, controlled by said relay, and adapted in the neutral condition thereof to eflect energization of said relief valve whereby said movable member is maintained in a position; said switching means being adapted when said relay is in oppositely energized conditions .to effect, respectively energization and deene'rgization of both said relief valve and said pump, whereby the heating of the space is respectively increased and decreased; and means, moved in accordance with the movement of said movable member, for balancing said bridge in response to the result of the actuation of said switching m'eana 4 I WIILIAM A. BAY. 

